Arida Mikan: the Best Tangerines in Kansai

When people think of Wakayama, the first thing that often comes to mind is mandarins, or mikan. In particular, Arida, located in the heart of Wakayama, is known as a major mandarin-growing area. In Arida, mandarins are so abundant that 90% of the farmland consists of mandarin orchards.

Arida Mikan

Wakayama’s Best 

Arida mikan is a type of Japanese mandarin (Citrus unshiu) that is cultivated in the Arida region, which includes Arida City, Aridagawa Town, Yuasa Town, and Hirokawa Town, all located in the heart of Wakayama Prefecture. 

 

Wakayama is the leading producer of tangerines in Japan, and the Arida region’s mild climate, surrounded by mountains, provides an ideal environment for growing these fruits. As a result, mandarins from this area are known to be sweeter and juicier than those grown in other regions.

 

The popularity of Arida mikan is widely recognized throughout Japan, with Wakayama ranking first nationwide in mikan production. Moreover, more than half of the mikans produced in Wakayama are Arida mikans.

Although there are various theories of how the popularity of these trees started, it is widely believed that Ito Magoemon brought back some saplings from Kumamoto in the 15th century and planted them behind his house.

Even today, you can see the big tangerine grove behind his former house in Arida City.

Even during the Edo Period, Wakayama was famous for its mandarins!  Kinokuniya Bunzaemon (commonly known as Kibun) made his fortune by shipping mandarins from Arida to Edo!

Where to Buy

Arida mikan are commonly sold in supermarkets in the Kansai region. Recently, there are even finer classifications, such as Tamura and Shindo Mikan. Shindo mikans are the most expensive ones in the Arida mikans and are only sold in department stores.

Arida mikan is harvested from September for the very early season to January for the late season, but the most commonly available is from the early one (called wase) in November and the mid-season one (called nakate) in December.

The price varies depending on the size of the mikan, but it is usually around 5-600 yen for 5-6 mikan. Many people can absentmindedly eat 2-3 mikan at once, so stores in Wakayama often offer the option to order them by the kilo.

The Sweet Taste of Arida Mikan

The most important aspect of mikan is their taste! The Arida mikan is known for its sweetness; they are sweet and juicy, with a firm and full-bodied texture. 

Tamura mikan, which has become more common recently, is a late-season variety of Arida mikan. I believe they are even sweeter than the regular Arida mikan. They also seem to be slightly larger.

Shindo mikan is even sweeter than regular Arida mikan. You can really notice the difference if you take the time to remove the pith (the white stringy part) from the fruit before eating them.

Snug in the warmth of a kotatsu, savoring the sweetness of mikan, and drifting into a peaceful nap is truly a beautiful way to spend a day in Japan.